Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-20
The Fisheries Commission has been pronounced

The Fisheries Commission has been pronounced
an eut-of- joint rather than a joint commission,
and events furnish some justification for this de-
predatory title. The dlsjonting process seems to
he IA operation on both sides OF the controversy.
Mr.. Chamberlain, the English principal high COM
missioner" has been saying dlsagreeable things
concerning Irsh-Americans In his electioneering
Tour through Ulster, and the liberals are loudly
proclalrning that his usefulness a commissioner
70 the tinted states Is impaired; that he Will be
treated In this country a. O'Bren was treated In
Canada, and that his appointment should be
resclnded howl OF dlsapprobation In Canada
and Newfoundland has greeted the appointment
OF 81. Charles Tupper as their representative. The
Newfoundlanders wish 10 deal directly with the
United states The Canadians add TO the per-
sonal d strust Of Sir Charles Topper which exists
IN some sections. a suspicion unfavorable to the
commission generally, fearing that their supposed
Interests will not receive due consideration In q
body OF i've, 10 which they send single represent
alive. In the United states the New England nsh-
errnen repudiate the commission The Senate has
disapproved almost unanimously negotiations for
q commission 20 consider this matter, and the last
Congress, viewing the matter at issue as more a
dispute concerning the respect, hospitality
and decent treatment due to the citizens OF q
neighbOring nation than as question concerning
the right 10 fish, adopted the policy OF retaliation,
and empowered the President to return dlscour-
tesy FOR dsc0urtesy, fnhospita1ty for inhospital-
ity. even TO the extent OF shutting out from our
ports and territory the ships and goods Of the
onebdiIs people, II thought advisable. Our 30
called commissioners cannot therefore, as part OF
1Olat commission, settle and determine anything
which Will bind the United States. The labors OF
The commissioners, thus discredlted In one way or
another, threaten TO be rendered still more din
cult through the Injection into their deliberations
Of the question or nights in the Alaskan seal fish,
cries. There Is no need on the part OF the United
States 70 hasten the discussion and settlement
OF this matter. our grievances against Canada
do not involve necessarily the question OF the right
TO fsn outside OF the three-me limit. Nobody dis
putes that right when the claim has reference to
the open ocean. Distinct questions are involved
In the Alaskan dispute Whether Behring sea is
land locked whether Russia acquired title 70 that
sea by right OF discovery and Of long continued
and unisputed possession and has conveyed the
same TO Us and whether It Is possible TO acquire a
title such as Is asserted IN respect TO pearl fish,
cries 70 animals ike the seals which frequent GER
tain islands and ara KILLED upon them, even though
Mt certain seasons the seals may wander in the
open ocean, are all ut issue. The United states
should make every EFFORT first 70 avoid being drawn
Into astruggle. and second TO escape defeat In a
struggle, IN which q surrender would expos, 70 the
use or theworld and to certain determination the
valuable seal fisheries, OF which we have long had
Tie exclusive benefit.